Fledglings

(Multiple Photos)
Well it had to happen. These two Great Horned Owl youngsters finally left the comfort of their nest cavity in an old Cottonwood tree. We first spotted a single young owl on this branch but just as we got out the camera a second flew down and joined the first. The second owl waddled around on the branch and got all cozy with their sibling who seemed a bit annoyed at having to share their perch.

A moment latter the owl in front took a leap of faith, with eyes fully closed, and landed clumsily on the perch below.

I am not sure how adult owls handle it but watching fledgling owls learn to fly is sure a nerve wracking experience for me.

Great shots! Yes, it is nerve wracking to watch birds learn how to fly. A few years ago, I saw a baby hawk learning to fly. It kept going up and up and up and up. I didn’t think it was ever going to figure out how to come back down. And then the screaming started… I don’t know if it was the baby or the momma screaming. At that point, I had to stop watching.

Hi Jane, Owls are sure fun to see and we often get a view during the daylight if we know of an area in which they are nesting. Sometimes when we see large groups of crows hanging out in trees making a racket it is a telltale sign of of owl nearby and they are giving it the business. Hope you are having a great day.

They are a handful and clumsy as all can be. We had to rescue one that fell down Christy’s father chimney once while out learning to fly. It must have landed on the edge and then fell down into the chimney.